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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Well okay I have different feelings from this
- the first 100 pages didn't felt right at all
- they kiss so fast
- but after page 100 it went better and god! The ending wow- it made imm from 1⭐ -> 3⭐
- the first 100 pages didn't felt right at all
- they kiss so fast
- but after page 100 it went better and god! The ending wow- it made imm from 1⭐ -> 3⭐
*3.7 stars*
- The main characters had so much chemestry, the physical attraction was evident from the beginning, but it took me a while to actually buy into their romantic relationship.
- I really like the complicated family dynamics that both of the characters are dealing with, I really liked seeing the development of Sara's relationship with her family and the way eveything was resolved was satyisfing. I really liked Luis family and I'm looking forward to her siblings stories in the next books. But I felt like the resolution to his conflict with his brother was a bit rushed.
- at the beginning I had issues with some word choices in this book, some complicated or longer words were used when simpler ones would work better and that pulled me out of the story. But this got better by the end of the book.
- The main characters had so much chemestry, the physical attraction was evident from the beginning, but it took me a while to actually buy into their romantic relationship.
- I really like the complicated family dynamics that both of the characters are dealing with, I really liked seeing the development of Sara's relationship with her family and the way eveything was resolved was satyisfing. I really liked Luis family and I'm looking forward to her siblings stories in the next books. But I felt like the resolution to his conflict with his brother was a bit rushed.
- at the beginning I had issues with some word choices in this book, some complicated or longer words were used when simpler ones would work better and that pulled me out of the story. But this got better by the end of the book.
This Key West-set romance was angsty and rich. I was totally immersed in the setting and the characters. Both had true, fully explored baggage. Both had to confront their issues to move forward with the other. The hero was a wonderful man, always helping others and not his emotional core. The heroine was independent and lonely, constantly using coping skills in her recovery from an eating disorder. I don't think I've ever read a romance wherein a character copes with such a disorder - I've read numerous others - abuse, ADD, autism, etc - but this was a truly unique perspective.
Highly recommend - it's not a light read, though!
Highly recommend - it's not a light read, though!
Island Affair // by Priscilla Oliveras
From the Netgalley description: "...family dinners, bike tours, private snorkeling trips . . . sharing secrets, and slow, melting kisses."
Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras is a fun beach romance novel with a Latin twist. Social Media Influencer Sara Vance is stood up last minute at the Key West airport by the boyfriend she is supposed to bring to her family vacation - a vacation that is supposed to be stress-free and relaxing for her mother who is recovering from a serious illness. Desperate to not disappoint the family she has been wanting to impress for so long, she propositions the hot firefighter she meets outside the airport. Luis Navarro, who was just put on a mandatory break by his boss and who usually never does anything like this, surprises both Sara and himself when he agrees to be her pretend boyfriend. Last-minute studying and a lot improvising in front of her and his family has them stumbling through the week and over some not-so-pretend feelings. Will one week be enough to work through their past issues and mistakes or is this just a flash-and-burn beach romance after all?
The premise sounded very unbelievable to me (obviously I don't read many romances) but after I read the First Look on BookishFirst, I knew I wanted to read this one anyway because I just cannot say no to a smoking hot Latino firefighter. Unbelievable or not, I enjoyed this novel a lot! The tensions between Sara and Luis, both sexual and related to their past troubles, keep you on your toes and the two completely different family dynamics are both so easy to relate to. I really like how Oliveras regularly used Spanish phrases throughout the book but kept the story flowing well with the translations. Was it a little predictable? Definitely. Did I care? Not at all. I thoroughly enjoyed this beach read and am excited for the next one!
From the Netgalley description: "...family dinners, bike tours, private snorkeling trips . . . sharing secrets, and slow, melting kisses."
Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras is a fun beach romance novel with a Latin twist. Social Media Influencer Sara Vance is stood up last minute at the Key West airport by the boyfriend she is supposed to bring to her family vacation - a vacation that is supposed to be stress-free and relaxing for her mother who is recovering from a serious illness. Desperate to not disappoint the family she has been wanting to impress for so long, she propositions the hot firefighter she meets outside the airport. Luis Navarro, who was just put on a mandatory break by his boss and who usually never does anything like this, surprises both Sara and himself when he agrees to be her pretend boyfriend. Last-minute studying and a lot improvising in front of her and his family has them stumbling through the week and over some not-so-pretend feelings. Will one week be enough to work through their past issues and mistakes or is this just a flash-and-burn beach romance after all?
The premise sounded very unbelievable to me (obviously I don't read many romances) but after I read the First Look on BookishFirst, I knew I wanted to read this one anyway because I just cannot say no to a smoking hot Latino firefighter. Unbelievable or not, I enjoyed this novel a lot! The tensions between Sara and Luis, both sexual and related to their past troubles, keep you on your toes and the two completely different family dynamics are both so easy to relate to. I really like how Oliveras regularly used Spanish phrases throughout the book but kept the story flowing well with the translations. Was it a little predictable? Definitely. Did I care? Not at all. I thoroughly enjoyed this beach read and am excited for the next one!
3.5 stars but I rounded up because it was a quick read and a sweet romance. I normally do not go for instalove but a vacation time romance set in Key West? Sign me up! I won this book from the publisher and I am so glad I did. This book is the perfect beach read. So Sara's boyfriend cancels at the last minute for her family's beach vacation. She meets a cute firefighter at the airport and one thing leads to another and he agrees to her crazy plan to pretend to be her boyfriend for the week. Of course they fall in love but all sorts of craziness happens because he lives there and constantly sees people he knows. Sara and Luis both have issues from their past and issues with their families that they need to work out which made this very real but also sweet at the same time. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.
Such an adorable book. A fresh, quick rom-com with lovable characters, a beautiful setting, and some deeper issues to tackle.
As a person who's struggled with ED and the need to please & succeed her whole life, Sara really hit home for me. And the family dysfunction on both sides is sure to be relatable to anyone. The love story was sweet and remarkably believable. Sometimes it felt a little repetitive, really driving home Luis' trust issues and Sara's insecurities, but that kind of just made me feel even more invested in their success.
I'd recommend this to any rom-com fans, people interested in family dramas or eating disorder recovery, and lovers of Florida and it's beautiful scenery.
As a person who's struggled with ED and the need to please & succeed her whole life, Sara really hit home for me. And the family dysfunction on both sides is sure to be relatable to anyone. The love story was sweet and remarkably believable. Sometimes it felt a little repetitive, really driving home Luis' trust issues and Sara's insecurities, but that kind of just made me feel even more invested in their success.
I'd recommend this to any rom-com fans, people interested in family dramas or eating disorder recovery, and lovers of Florida and it's beautiful scenery.
This book was super repetitive. I loved the relationship between the main characters but the writing style just seemed to drag on forever
Island Affair gives good meet cute! When I started reading Island Affair, I’d come off a string of heavy nonfiction reads. It was refreshing to take in a light, character rich story about people I wanted to root for.
Our main female character finds herself attending a family event without a plus one, and she does NOT have an easy relationship with her family. She needs a buffer to help the weekend go right. She accidentally meets our lead male at the airport on her way in to the Florida Keys, and — in true My Best Friends Wedding style — he offers to pretend to be her main squeeze for the duration.
She is an Instagram Influencer, having built her company on her own; he is a firefighter with a rough past in love. Together, they overcome obstacles in a beautiful vacation setting. I wanted to book a vacation to the Keys immediately!
Our main female character finds herself attending a family event without a plus one, and she does NOT have an easy relationship with her family. She needs a buffer to help the weekend go right. She accidentally meets our lead male at the airport on her way in to the Florida Keys, and — in true My Best Friends Wedding style — he offers to pretend to be her main squeeze for the duration.
She is an Instagram Influencer, having built her company on her own; he is a firefighter with a rough past in love. Together, they overcome obstacles in a beautiful vacation setting. I wanted to book a vacation to the Keys immediately!
This was a fun, summer read.
An insta love, with fake dating and a firefighter hero.
What more can one want?
An insta love, with fake dating and a firefighter hero.
What more can one want?